Goldman Sachs has become the first investment bank to achieve a market capitalisation at close of trading of more than $100bn (€74bn), as its soaring shares took it over the threshold for the third time in a week.

Goldman's share price closed last night at a record $230.71 giving the bank a market capitalisation of $100.5bn. That valuation puts it $10bn ahead of closest rival Morgan Stanley and almost $20bn higher than Merrill Lynch.